Based on the linked source; automatically prepared and checked against the original report.
Review Scope
The review examined urban and outdoor accessibility challenges for manual wheelchair users, focusing on physical impairment, wheeled-mobility self-efficacy and wheelchair mobility proficiency. Researchers searched eight databases for English-language peer-reviewed studies published between January 2015 and May 2025, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria.
Fragmented Evidence
The available evidence was methodologically diverse and fragmented. No included study examined all three dimensions together, while wheelchair mobility proficiency received the least attention. Greater physical impairment was associated with more perceived barriers and greater effort. Self-efficacy influenced whether participants avoided or engaged in mobility tasks beyond the effects of physical functioning.
Skills and Urban Conditions
The review associated mobility proficiency—supported by training, experience and wheelchair fit—with managing ramps, uneven surfaces and other environmental demands. However, proficiency was rarely assessed through standardized performance measures. The authors describe urban accessibility as an interaction among physical functioning, self-efficacy, assistive-device characteristics and environmental conditions, and call for integrative research with standardized measures and clearer reporting of wheelchair fit and configuration.
